Repeating gun for shooting elastic bands



Jan. 28, 1964 H. J. ASHLEY 3,119,385

REPEATING GUN FOR SHOOTING ELASTIC BANDS Filed March 19, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 1 4 M FIGURE 1 1 1 :5 J 2 A 7 r? 41 4 1 4 g 9 A 1 FIGURE 2FIGURE 3 sllli d nkMAA/ 11 5 9a 9 p 9 1 FIGURE 4 FIGURE 5 1 Howard JAs/z/gy IN V EN TOR.

Jan. 28, 1964 H. J. ASHLEY 3,119 ,385

REPEATING GUN FOR SHOOTING ELASTIC BANDS Filed March 19, 1962 3Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGURE 6 FIGURE 8 20 Howard J. Ask/6y IN V EN TOR.

BY 95 $3M Jan. 1964 H. J. ASHLEY 3,119,385

REPEATING GUN FOR SHOOTING ELASTIC BANDS Filed March 19, 1962 *W 22 E5 W16 Q]; FIGURE 10 22 FIGURES FIGURE 11 Howard J. Ashley ziffarz gy 3Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent Howard J. Ashley, 28 Mirabel Ave,Mill Valley, Calif. Filed Mar. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 180,703 6 Claims. (Cl.124-19) This invention relates to a toy gun, and more particularly to atoy piston adapted to discharge elastic bands.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a toy pistolhaving means for holding a number of elastic bands under tension, incombination with a trigger-controlled barrel which is adapted to beoperated by the pressure of ones finger to release and discharge thebands singly and in succession.

Another object of this invention is to provide a toy pistol of the kindcharacterized which is adapted to utilrze elastic bands in the dischargeof projectiles of the rigid type.

Other and further objects of this invention will be pointed outhereinafter or will be indicated in the appended claims or will beobvious to one skilled in the art upon an understanding of the presentdisclosure. For the purpose of this application, I have elected to showherein certain forms and details of a toy gun representative of thisinvention; it is to be understood, however, that the embodiment of myinvention herein shown and described is for purposes of illustrationonly, and that therefore it is not to be regarded as exhaustive of thevariations of the invention in the art.

In the accompanying drawing:

I FIG. 1 is a plan view of a toy invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the same;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the same, showing parts broken awayand other parts in section;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line A-A of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale of the toy pistol,showing a part of the grip broken away, and also showing an elastic bandheld under tension and 1H position ready for release by thetrigger-controlled means;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a part of a toy pistol embodyinganother form my invention may assume, showing a part of the barrel andgrip broken away and in section;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of that illustrated in FIG. 7, and showing insection;

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a pellet designed for attachment toan elastic band;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken on the line BB of FIG. 9; FIG. 11 is aperspective view of an elastic band havmg a pallet secured thereto, thetwo in combination constituting a projectile having a weight greaterthan the band alone;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged perspective view of the muzzle end of the toypistol;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged perspective view of a rigid type gf pdrojectileadapted to be fired by means of an elastic FIG. 14 is a detail plan viewof a fragmentary part of the muzzle end of a toy pistol, showing theshape of a hook to which an elastic band is attached preparatory to thefiring operation;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view on an enlarged scale, of a rigid type ofprojectile adapted to be discharged by means of my toy pistol, utilizingthe tensioned elastic band for propulsion purposes; and

pistol embodying my part of the toy pistol parts broken away and 3,119,385 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 FIG. 16 is a perspective view of themuzzle end of a toy pistol adapted to discharge the projectile shown inFIG. 15.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 to 6, illustrating the preferred embodimentof my toy pistol, the numeral 1 designates a grip simulating portioncomprising a pair of similarly shaped longitudinally vertically splithalves secured together as by means of a suitable adhesive. Secured toand overlying the grip 1 is a pin supporting breech block 2 which isformed at its opposite sides with horizontal correspondingly positionedlongitudinal grooves 3. Secured to the block 2 and extending rearwardlyfrom the rear face or side thereof are a plurality of breech pins 4which in the embodiment illustrated are six (6) in number. The pins areof different lengths, and in cross-section each is preferably H-shaped,although they may also embody other forms if so desired. As shown inFIG. 3, the pins are arranged in two (2) vertical rows, each of thethree (3) pins of each row being uniformly spaced one from another. Theforward end portion of the block 2 at its underneath side is formed witha plurality of equally spaced V-shaped ratchet-like teeth orprotuberances 5 which are spaced one from another by notches 6, suchteeth and notches being arranged in horizontal alignment. The teeth 5and notches 6 are of uniform width, and they are operatively associatedwith the breech pins 4 in the operation of the device. The number ofeach of such teeth and notches is at least equal to the number of breechpins.

The barrel simulating portion of the toy pistol comprises two (2)similarly shaped shell-like sections which when arranged in assembledformation form a tubular barrel 7. The shell-like barrel sections haveopposed lateral sides which extend longitudinally alongside the lateralsides of the breech block 2. The opposed sides of the barrel sectionseach have correspondingly arranged longitudinal tongues 0 on their innersurfaces which slidably fit in the grooves 3 of the block. The barrel '7is adapted to be moved rearwardly and forwardly with respect to thebreech block 2 and the grip 1. Secured to one of the shelllike sectionsof the barrel 7 is a depending trigger memher 9 which is formed at itsupper side near the rear end thereof with a protuberance or tooth 1t)which is adapted to engage successively with the teeth of the breechblock and also successively enter the notches 6 as the barrel is movedrearwardly. The trigger member 9 is secured at its forward end to thebarrel 7 by a fairly slender connecting piece 9a which is sufficientlyflexible to allow the tooth 10 of the trigger member to ride over theteeth 5 of the breech block as the barrel is moved rearwardly when thetrigger member is pulled rearwardly by a rearward pressure appliedthereto by ones finger.

My toy pistol is preferably constructed from polystyrene or othersuitable plastic material which is slightly flexible, thereby making itpossible for the rear end portion of the trigger member 9 to move up anddown as the teeth 5 of the block are successively engaged by the tooth10 of such trigger member when the barrel is moved rearwardly orforwardly with respect to the block.

Tightly fitting over and secured to the rear ends of the shell-likesections of the barrel 7 is a breech cap or closure member 11 having aplate-like portion which is formed with H-shaped openings 11a throughwhich the breech pins 4 movably extend. Extending upwardly from thebreech cap is a rear sight 12, and associated therewith is a front sight13 secured to one of the sections of the barrel 7.

Tightly fitting over and secured to the forward ends of the shell-likesections of the barrel is a muzzle cap 14 which has a plurality offorwardly extending tapered muzzle pins 15 secured thereto. The muzzlepins correspond in number to and are arranged in substantially the sameformation as the breech pins 4. The shell-like barrel sections formingthe tubular barrel 7 are maintained in asembled relationship by thebreceh cap 11 and the muzzle cap 14, or by a suitable adhesive, or by acombination of both.

Preparatory to loading the pistol, the barrel 7 is adusted to itsextreme forward position with respect to the breech block 2 as shown inFIG. 4. When so adjusted, all of the breech pins 4 will be projectingrearwardly with respect to the breech cap 11 and the tooth 10 of thetrigger member 9 will be positioned directly in front of and inengagement with the forward tooth 5. The pistol is loaded with a numberof elastic bands 16 or resilient loops by successively hooking them ontothe breech pins 4 and then stretching and hooking them ontocorresponding muzzle pins 15. When fully loaded, there will be six (6)tensioned elastic bands extending longitudinally along the barrel '7,each hooked onto a breech pin and a correspondingly positioned muzzlepin. The tensioned elastic bands exert a rearward pull on the barrel,but the tooth 10 of the trigger member engaging with a tooth 5 of theblock 2 normally holds the barrel against rearward movement until anadditional pressure in a rearward direction is exerted by ones finger onthe trigger member. In order to make possible the release of a band 16at the breech end of the pistol, each time the trigger member ismomentarily pulled rearwardly to cause the tooth to ride over a tooth 5of the block and thereby move the barrel rearwardly a distance equal tothe width of such tooth, it is necessary that the breech pins 4 havepredetermined different lengths. Thus the shortest pin 4 will have alength whereby it will be in a withdrawn position with respect to therear surface of the breech cap 11 after the trigger member ismomentarily pulled to cause the tooth Ill to ride over the forwardlydisposed tooth S and become lodged in the forwardly disposed notch 6'.Thus when the shortest breech pin has assumed a Withdrawn position uponthe initial rearward movement of the barrel, the elastic hand thenengaging with such pin will be released by the breech cap from such pin,and by reason of the inherent tension possessed by such band, it will beprojected forwardly with considerable force. The next shortest breechpin 4 normally projects rear wardly from the rear surface of the breechcap 11 a distance approximately equivalent to the width of two (2) ofthe teeth 5, and similarly, the other breech pins having differentpredetermined lengths will make it possible to release an elastic bandeach time the trigger member 9 is pulled momentarily to cause the tooth10 to ride over a succeeding tooth 5. So as to prevent an elastic bandfrom becoming held in a pinched position between the breech cap 11 andthe breech pin 4 then supporting such band, it has been found advisableto give the breech pins a cross-sectional H-shape. Thus as the breechcap moves rearwardly with the barrel to release a band from a pin, thatpart of the cap located between the inner parallel portions of theH-shaped opening will engage with the band and free it from the pin assuch pin moves toward a withdrawn position with respect to the rearsurface of the breech cap.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, anothermechanism is employed in the release of the elastic bands. In thecombination illustrated, the grip 1 and the barrel 7 are rigidly securedtogether, and a breech block 2a is mounted in the barrel for rearwardand forward reciprocating movement. The breech pins 4 normally projectrearwardly through the breech cap 11, and each is adapted to bewithdrawn to release an elastic band upon the predetermined movement ina forward direction of the breech block. A coil spring 17 connected atits ends to the forward end of the block and to the grip 1 normallyholds the block 2a in a rearwardly disposed position with all of thebreech pins 4 projecting rearwardly of the breech cap 11, as shown inFIGS. 7 and 8.

Pivotally mounted 91 a pivot pin 18 supported by opposed bosses 19 onthe inner surfaces of the barrel sections is a trigger 20, which isconnected at a point above such pivot pin by a link 21 to the forwardend of the breech block. The trigger 20 is normally held by the coilspring 17 in a cocked position. When the depending finger piece of thetrigger is moved rearwardly by the rearward pressure of ones finger theupper end of such trigger is swung forwardly to pull the block in thesame direction. As the block moves forwardly, the breech pins aresuccessively withdrawn, thereby causing the elastic bands to besuccessively fired. When the pressure on the finger piece of the triggeris released, the spring 17 returns the block 2a, the breech pins 4 andthe trigger 26) to their normal positions for subsequent reloading.

In FIGS. 9, 10 and ll, I have illustrated a metal projectile 22, whichis adapted to be secured to an elastic band 16. The projectile comprisestwo (2) similar sections secured together by suitable means such as atongue and groove arrangement. The sections of the projectile are formedwith opposed longitudinal grooves, which when the sections are inassembled relationship, form longitudinal openings through which theelastic band extends. The metal projectile 22 is made from heavy metalsuch as lead, and when secured to an elastic band, it gives the latteradded weight to increase the flight thereof as well as to make possiblemore accuracy in firing.

In FIGS. 12 and 14, l have shown the muzzle end portion of a gun whichis adapted to utilize elastic bands in the firing of projectiles of thetype illustrated in FIG. 13. In this embodiment of my invention, themuzzle cap 14 secured to the barrel 7 is provided with a plurality offorwardly projecting books 23 which are arranged preferably in the samegeneral formation as the breech pins, such hooks having their inner endsspaced sufiiciently from the said cap to permit elastic bands to beconnected thereto when loading the gun. A projectile 24, shown in FIG.13, is adapted to be fired from a gun of the type illustrated partiallyin FIG. 12. The projectile 24 comprises a short metal projectile body 25of suitable length, having a structurally rigid metal ring or hoop 26pivotally secured to its rear end. The body 25 is formed with a widerearwardly opening notch 27 through which an elastic band may be passedto attach the projectile 24 releasably to the band. In loading the gun,the ring 26 of the projectile is placed over and connected to a breechpin, after which the tensioned band while connected to the projectile ishooked onto a corresponding hook 23 at the muzzle end of the gun. Uponreleasing the ring 26 from the breech pin in the manner heretoforedescribed, the elastic band hurls the projectile 24 forwardly along theside of the gun barrel and forwardy thereof. The elastic band beinghooked onto the hook 23 is held against detachment from the gun, but theprojectile upon releasing itself from the band continues to travelforwardly as an independent missile.

As shown in FIG. 15, a projectile 24a may be formed with an enlongatedbody or shank 25a having a pointed head 28 thereon. This particularprojectile is adapted to be fired from a gun of the type described, suchgun having a muzzle cap 14a of the kind shown in FIG. 16. The muzzle cap14a is sufficiently wide to extend laterally well beyond the sides ofthe barrel, and formed in each of the laterally disposed portions ofsuch cap is a vertical row of openings 29 of the same size which areslightly wider in diameter than the diameter of the shank 25a of theprojectile 24a. The pivoted ring or hoop 26 at the rear end of theprojectile body 25a is no wider than the diameter of an opening 22 thusmaking it possible for the projectile to be propelled through suchopening. The lateral portions of the muzzle cap 14a are formed with arecessed projection 30 for receiving and holding elastic bands 16 usedin the propulsion of the projectiles 24a. The recessed projections 30are each formed with a vertical band receiving opening 31 and a verticalslot 32 through which a band may be inserted to hook such band onto theprojection. The openings 29 and the band holding projections 30 arepreferably arranged in the same general formation as the muzzle pins 4.A projectile 24a is fired in the same manner as the projectile What Iclaim is:

1. In a toy gun for shooting elastic hands, a hand grip, a barrelsecured to the grip, a breech member on the rear end of the barrelhaving a plurality of openings arranged in a predetermined formation, amuzzle member secured to the forward end of the barrel and having aplurality of forwardly projecting band supporting members arranged insubstantially the same formation as the openings in the breech member, apin supporting member mounted for rearward and forward recipricatingmovement in the barrel, a plurality of rearwardly extending pins ofpredetermined different lengths carried by and extending rearwardly fromthe pin supporting member, the said pins normally extending rearwardlythrough the openings in the breech member, the said pins beingsuccessively withdrawn with respect to the breech member when the pinsupporting member is moved forwardly, the said pins and the bandsupporting members of the muzzle member being adapted to hold releasablya plurality of tensioned elastic bands extending alongside the barrel, atrigger pivotally supported on the barrel, means connecting the triggerand the pin supporting member, whereby the pin supporting member may beprogressively moved forwardly to move successively the pins to withdrawnpositions with respect to the breech member to release successively thebands, and spring means for returning the pin supporting member and thepins rearwardly.

2. In a toy gun, a barrel having a breech member on its rear end, thebreech member having a plunality of openings arranged in predeterminedformation, a hand grip connected to the barrel, a pin supporting membermounted for longitudinal adjustment in the rear portion of the barrel, aplurality of rearwardly extending pins of different lengths carried bythe pin supporting member and arranged to extend normally through theopenings in the breech member and rearwardly thereof, the pins havingpredetermined different lengths whereby they will be successivelywithdrawn with respect to the breech member as the pin supporting memberis longitudinally adjusted forwardly in the barrel, a muzzle membersecured to the forward end of the barrel, the muzzle member havinglaterally disposed portions extending outwardly from the barrel, thesaid portions having a plurality of openings arranged in substantiallythe same formation as the openings of the breech member, the saidportions also having laterally projecting members for holding tensionedelastic bands, and a plurality of rigid projectiles having elongatedshanks extending along the barrel and slidably supported in the openingsof the muzzle member, the projectiles having notch means for detachablyreceiving tensioned elastic bands connected to the projecting members,the said elastic bands urging the projectiles forwardly, and said shankshaving movable members at their rear ends releasab ly connected to thepins.

3. In a toy gun, a barrel having a breech member on its rear end, thebreech member having a plurality of openings arranged in predeterminedformation, a hand grip connected to the barrel, a pin supporting membermounted for longitudinal adjustment in the rear portion of the barrel, aplurality of rearward ly extending breech pins of different lengthscarried by the pin supporting member and arranged to extend normallythrough the openings in the breech member and rearwardly thereof, thepins having lengths whereby they will be successively withdrawn withrespect to the breech member as the barrel and pin supporting member arelongitudinally adjusted in certain directions with respect to eachother, a muzzle member secured to the forward end of the barrel, aplurality of forwardly projecting books on the muzzle member arranged insubstantially the same formation as the breech pins, the said hooksbeing adapted to hold tensioned elastic bands detachably fastened toprojectiles re'leasably held in restrained positions by the breech pins.

4. In a toy gun for shooting elastic bands, a hand grip, a pinsupporting member secured to and mounted on the hand grip, -a pluralityof rearwardly extending band supporting pins of different lengthsarranged in a certain separated formation on the pin supporting member,a barrel mounted for rearward and forward reciprocating movement on thepin supporting member, the bar-rel having a closure member on its rearend, the closure memher having a plurality of openings arranged toreceive the pins slidably, the pins being adapted to extend rearwardlyof the closure member and such pins having predetermined ditferentlengths whereby when the barrel is progressively moved rearwardly withrespect to the pin. supporting member, the pins will become successivelywithdrawn with respect to the closure member, a plurality of forwardlyprojecting band supporting members on the forward end of the barrel, thepins and the band supporting members being adapted to hold releasably aplurality of tensioned elastic bands, and trigger means for moving thebarrel rearwardly to release the bands from the pins.

5. The combination set forth in claim 4, wherein the pin supportingmembers on the forward end of the barrel are arranged in substantiallythe same formation as the pins.

6. In a toy gun for shooting elastic bands, a hand grip, a pinsupporting member secured to and mounted on thehand grip, a plurality ofrearwarclly extending band sup porting pins of different lengthsarranged in a certain separated formation at the rear side of the pinsupporting member, a barrel mounted for rearward and forward movement onthe pin supporting member, the barrel hav-' ing a breech cap on its rearend, the breech cap having a plurality of openings adapted to receivethe pins slidably, the pins being adapted to extend rearwardly of thebreech cap when the barrel is in a certain position with respect to thepin supporting member and the pins having such predetermined differentlengths that when the barrel is progressively moved rearwardly, the pinswill become successively withdrawn with respect to the breech cap, amuzzle cap on the forward end of the barrel, the muzzle cap having aplurality of forwardly extending pin supporting projections thereonarranged in substantially the same formation as the breech pins, thebreech pins and the projections being adapted to hold releasably aplurality of tensioned elastic bands extending longitudinally alongsidethe barrel, :a plurality of uniformly spaced teeth arrangedlongitudinally on the pin supporting member, and a resilient triggermember carried by the barrel and having a projecting element adapted toengage successively with and become released from the teeth as thetrigger member is actuated, whereby the rearward movement of the barrelmay be controlled to release successively the bands from the breechpins.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,809,208 McFarland June 9, 1931 2,108,669 Johnson Feb. 1 5, 1 9

1. IN A TOY GUN FOR SHOOTING ELASTIC BANDS, A HAND GRIP, A BARRELSECURED TO THE GRIP, A BREECH MEMBER ON THE REAR END OF THE BARRELHAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS ARRANGED IN A PREDETERMINED FORMATION, AMUZZLE MEMBER SECURED TO THE FORWARD END OF THE BARREL AND HAVING APLURALITY OF FORWARDLY PROJECTING BAND SUPPORTING MEMBERS ARRANGED INSUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORMATION AS THE OPENINGS IN THE BREECH MEMBER, APIN SUPPORTING MEMBER MOUNTED FOR REARWARD AND FORWARD RECIPROCATINGMOVEMENT IN THE BARREL, A PLURALITY OF REARWARDLY EXTENDING PINS OFPREDETERMINED DIFFERENT LENGTHS CARRIED BY AND EXTENDING REARWARDLY FROMTHE PIN SUPPORTING MEMBER, THE SAID PINS NORMALLY EXTENDING REARWARDLYTHROUGH THE OPENINGS IN THE BREECH MEMBER, THE SAID PINS BEINGSUCCESSIVELY WITHDRAWN WITH RESPECT TO THE BREECH MEMBER WHEN THE PINSUPPORTING MEMBER IS MOVED FORWARDLY, THE SAID PINS AND THE BANDSUPPORTING MEMBERS OF THE MUZZLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO HOLD RELEASABLYA PLURALITY OF TENSIONED ELASTIC BANDS EXTENDING ALONGSIDE THE BARREL, ATRIGGER PIVOTALLY SUPPORTED ON THE BARREL, LINK MEANS CONNECTING THETRIGGER AND THE PIN SUPPORTING MEMBER, WHEREBY THE PIN SUPPORTING MEMBERMAY BE PROGRESSIVELY MOVED FORWARDLY TO MOVE SUCCESSIVELY THE PINS TOWITHDRAWN POSITIONS WITH RESPECT TO THE BREECH MEMBER TO RELEASESUCCESSIVELY THE BANDS, AND SPRING MEANS FOR RETURNING THE PINSUPPORTING MEMBER AND THE PINS REARWARDLY.